It seems like cyclists all over the world cannot catch a break. Multiple reports and articles have come out of several countries talking about the dangers that cyclists face while riding on the roads. Cyclists on the road have been involved in multiple accidents and sometimes even death due to the irresponsibilities and aggressive nature of drivers on the roads.

Expecting a similar story during an event organized for cyclists, however, seems farfetched, but that is exactly what happened in the Hong Kong Cyclothon. The Cyclothon returned to the city of Hong Kong for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic, and there was great buzz and excitement in the air about it. It all fizzled out after a rider crashed, leading to a deadly pile-up.

Cyclists bear the brunt of lackluster organizing

The event took place during the afternoon, where cyclists set up for an eight-lap race along Salisbury Road in Tsim Shaa Tsui and the Hung Hom Bypass. It was a race open to both amateur and elite cyclists.

The crash occurred during the second lap of the race when a cyclist hit a traffic cone while trying to overtake the other participants. The unfortunate crash led to a massive pile-up as 13 cyclists followed suit and crashed, unable to maneuver their way around it.

Qu, a participant in the Cyclothon, spoke about the crash and what unfolded. “I was going very fast coming down and when I started slowing down, there were a lot of people,” Qu said. “The person in front of me slowed down suddenly, and I could not hit my brakes in time. That was how I hit his rear wheel and fell.”

Organizers stay firm in their stance

The organizers of the Cyclothon emphasized that such incidents are a rare and unique situation. Every cyclist taking part in such an event realizes there is always a risk of injury in such races. Some cyclists who complained about the track said the placement of the traffic cones meant a narrower track.

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The chairman of the Hong Kong Cycling Association said, “We left no stone unturned in making sure everything was perfectly organized, and such chain reactions are bound to happen in cycling events.” 

“Similar situations have occurred in major international races such as the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia in the past, which are unrelated to the track design and configuration,” Leung said.

The 13 cyclists’ pile-up led to a total of 27 people getting injured. Some suffered minor injuries, while others had to be admitted to the hospital to receive medical care. One rider remains in a serious condition in a hospital near the Kowloon area.

The event was not immediately called off after the destructive clash, based on the assessments of the experts and referees present at the event. Some participants came in support of the organizers and said they saw no issues with the track. The incident was tragic, but not something that was a result of poor planning and organizing. Olympic medallist Sarah Lee-Wai, too, believed that the track was completely fine and such incidents occur.

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